The luxury watercraft fee increases that were approved as part of a raft of new fees and taxes during the last government budget process will now not apply to charter boats and commercial fishermen.

The fees were aimed at luxury boat owners in the Cayman Islands and the largest fees were charged to boats longer than 30 feet.

The revised Port Authority of the Cayman Islands regulations state: “Where a local vessel is used for commercial purposes, the owner of the vessel shall be exempt from paying the fee so specified in respect of such vessel”.

Tourism Minister Cline Glidden Jr. said earlier this year, “There was a specific exemption [for commercial vessels], but apparently it got miscommunicated.

Rates on vessels between 31 and 40 feet are up from $300 to $1,000.

Rates on vessels between 41 and 50 feet are up from $300 to $2,000.

Similar scale increases were introduced on a sliding scale up to 100 feet.

The top rate previously charged was $1,000 for boats of more than 70 feet.

The top rate is now $10,000 for boats of more than 100 feet.